Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Boston , MA
Boston University is a renowned private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Established in 1839, it is one of the largest independent universities in the United States, enrolling over 35,000 students from all around the world. With its diverse and vibrant campus, BU offers a wide range of academic programs across its 17 schools and colleges. It is particularly renowned for its strong programs in business, law, engineering, communications, and health sciences.
BU boasts a faculty of distinguished professors who are experts in their respective fields and are dedicated to providing a world-class education to their students. The university is committed to fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Students have the opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research and participate in internships, co-op programs, and study abroad opportunities, enabling them to gain practical experience and expand their global perspective.
Apart from its strong academic foundation, BU offers a vibrant campus life with over 450 student organizations, clubs, and sports teams. The university also hosts numerous cultural events, concerts, and guest lectures, providing a diverse and inclusive environment for students to succeed academically and personally. Located in the heart of Boston, students have access to a city full of history, culture, and career opportunities. Whether strolling through the historic Freedom Trail, visiting world-class museums, or enjoying the local cuisine, BU students have endless opportunities to enrich their college experience.
Located in Boston, MA and set in an urban environment, Boston University is a private university. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 11%. The freshman retention rate at Boston University is 95% and the six-year graduation rate is 89%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 5. The transfer application deadline is March 15.
Discover more about what you can expect if you get into Boston University.
Quick Facts
18,805
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$69,870
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
89%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. How difficult is it to get admitted to Boston University and what are the admission requirements?
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 8,749 in 2025. Boston University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the student. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. With a rich history of academic excellence, it offers an unparalleled educational experience.
Test Scores
33% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 10% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 79% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 19% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 2% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 85, 9 between 24-29 and 6 in the range between 18-23.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.9. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Boston University.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Boston University is January 5. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
The freshman retention rate for Boston University was 95% in 2025, which is an excellent retention rate only the most prestigious institutions achieve.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 89%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the right fit for you is not a simple task. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by getting to know more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at Boston University in 2025 was 37,737.
That year, the school had 78% of students coming from another state. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 18,805, 3869 of which were international students. 915 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 12,030 male and 16,586 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school. 4,905 full-time graduate men and 6,612 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 3,750 Asian students and 1,080 Afro-American students in 2025. 2,089 undergrads at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 861 identified with more than one race. The school also had 17 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 9 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 694 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Boston University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $69,870 for full-time domestic students. Boston University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $1,502 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,000.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
At Boston University, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $19,970. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $12,790, according to the data from 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,790.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 69,870 |
| Room and Board | $ 19,970 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 90,840 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for many students. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid you might get at Boston University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 1,172 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students came to $62,183.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
7,558 students secured some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 7,644. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $25,432,763, and state $2,966,129. The students of Boston University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $404,785,765, and external in the amount of $3,441,218.
$32,831
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,965 students overall (including freshmen) at Boston University in 2025. 314 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $25,432,763 while the state aid is $1,288,641. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $27,211,152. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $6,945,257 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Boston University was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 2,861 faculty members at this school. This number included 1,552 male and 1,309 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Boston University: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some details about social life at Boston University.
Its campus spans 140 acres.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists exclusively of current students and/or alumni.
This school has 446 open-membership student organizations you can participate in. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The student organization that is most favored by students is International Affairs Association, followed by Queer Activist Collective and Asian Student Unionno. Other popular organizations among the students at Boston University are African Student Organization and Student Government.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Boston University band or chorus. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? Boston University publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Boston University, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. Dormitory entrances at the school are electronically operated. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of Boston University.
All in all, campus life at Boston University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Boston University.
Career Counselling
At Boston University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
Job Placement
Knowing what salary you can expect once you have completed your studies can help you decide if a certain school matches your career goals.
The average base annual starting salary of the students who were employed within six months of graduation at this school is 67,597 USD.
$67,597
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
-
Boston University is located in Boston, MA.
-
According to the latest information, the tuition for Boston University is 69,870 USD a year.
-
This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
-
The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Boston University is 11%.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Boston University is 95%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.